2021 Kia Niro

Kia's press site (opens in a new tab) says 8-inch display vehicles now come with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard, previously wired only, and Smart Key vehicles gain remote engine start. CarBuzz (opens in a new tab) lists standard rear occupant alert as the first change and says the Niro is set to be heavily revised for 2022, and SlashGear (opens in a new tab) says the styling updated for 2020 carries over.

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) puts the cheapest 2021 Niro, the LX wagon, at a Fair Purchase Price of $15,650. EPA rates the 2021 Niro family at 43 to 112 mpg or MPGe combined and $700 to $1,450 a year in fuel, with front-wheel drive, the top figure belonging to the electric Niro and its range of up to 239 miles.

NHTSA lists one recall campaign for the 2021 Niro, 23V534000, covering 2017 to 2022 Niro and 2018 to 2022 Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine compartment fire, and dealers inspect and replace the actuator as necessary and install a new fuse.

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA: power train with 4, and unknown or other, engine and electrical system with 2 each. Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) keeps a common-problems page for the year.

EPA rates the 2021 Niro family at 43 to 112 mpg or MPGe combined and $700 to $1,450 a year in fuel. The Toyota Prius lists 49 to 56 at $1,100 to $1,250, and the Hyundai Kona 27 to 120 at $600 to $2,300, a range that includes its electric version. The Niro's gasoline-electric versions sit just under the Prius on mpg.